NRL player manager and his son allegedly caught trying to smuggle 50kg of cocaine worth $16million into Australia

An accredited NRL player agent and his son have been arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle 50kg of cocaine worth $16million into Australia.

Police watched on as Keenan Mickley, 48, and Taj Mickley, 23, allegedly attempted to remove the drugs from a generator imported from Vietnam at an industrial address on Sydney’s northern beaches last month.

What the pair didn’t know was that the cocaine had already been seized by authorities.

‘Officers at Port Botany identified anomalies in an industrial generator during a routine inspection of sea cargo from Vietnam,’ an AFP spokeswoman said.

‘Upon further examination of the machinery, Australian Border Force officers identified a powdered substance which returned a presumptive reading for cocaine.’

Police allowed the generator to be transported to the industrial complex in Cromer, where Mr Mickley – who also works as a mortgage broker – had allegedly leased the industrial estate.

The father and son were arrested at the scene on September 30 and both have been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.

‘Police also allegedly found evidence the man made overseas cash transfers to a known criminal facilitator, and recently travelled to Vietnam,’ the AFP said in a statement.

Taj Mickley (pictured) was also charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs

Police will allege the drugs arrived in Australia from Vietnam hidden in a generator (pictured)

The father and son also purchased two angle grinders from Bunnings in an alleged bid to extract the drugs from the generator

According to his LinkedIn page, Keenan Mickley became an NRL agent just under a year ago (pictured, AFP officers arresting one of the pair) 

‘On September 30, AFP officers allegedly observed the 48-year-old and his son, 23, attempting to access a compartment in the generator where the drugs had been hidden.’

According to his LinkedIn page, Mickley became an NRL agent just under a year ago.

‘I’m proud to announce, that I am now an NRL Accredited Players Agent,’ he posted.

‘Looking forward to guiding some young rugby league players to hopefully and eventually realise their dream of playing in the NRL and NRLW. 

‘Keep an eye out for Beaches Sports Management.’

Mickley is also said to be the principal of LJ Hooker Home Loans Northern Beaches.

Online, he labelled himself as a ‘long term area local’ who possesses ‘a strong understanding of the Northern Beaches property market’.

Police enquiries into the syndicate are continuing.